By Eugene Lee
Distraught with various diseases and problems, but rich with oil and other mineral resources, the situation in the Aral Sea region has driven these countries to deeply reassess the value of development in terms of sustainability.
Moving away from ecologically dirty and expensive exploration projects; shifting from water consuming types of plants to drought-tolerant ones in agriculture; and health issues of the population, were just few of the issues that were discussed. In addition to that, these countries don't see the issue of the Aral Sea as local or even regional ― they see it as global one. As a result, their efforts are currently being paralleled by UNESCAP, a branch of the UN responsible for economic development, the World Bank and a few other international organizations.
Another example is an event that also took place last week halfway across the globe in Montevideo, Uruguay ― the Latin American and Caribbean Carbon Forum (LACCF). This event was an example of choreographed cooperation in sustainable development by 43 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the organizers, with over 800 local, regional and international participants from the private, public and financial sectors, the LACCF is a unique platform that offers an opportunity for policymakers, academics, businessmen and others to share and try innovative ideas for a sustainable future.
In the rapidly changing climate landscape, the governments that sharing a common vision for low carbon economies and societies are trying their best to create long-term sustainable business solutions on a regional scale.
The same stands true for North East Asia. Any effort by the governments, as it is in Central Asia or Latin America, will have to be regional. Despite historic and current diplomatic issues, if we are to improve the conditions for all, not just the low-income classes, then we need to find ways to work with China, Japan and most importantly, North Korea.
Moreover, going beyond political convictions and stubbornness, we need to employ a broader and deeper expertise in order to assess and deploy sustainable projects. Otherwise we will end up with negative results, like the botched Four Great Rivers Project, that did little, if nothing, for the low-income class, and has hurt the environment along the way.
Be it Soulik in Korea, Cimaron in Japan or even bigger Lane in Hawaii, we won't be able to escape the cataclysmic environmental reality, whether we agree it is caused by climate change or not. Any policy that attempts to improve the economy does little more than slap a Band-Aid on a much deeper problem, as it is often superficial, short-lived and may cause unanticipated consequences.
Policies and projects must go beyond just some part of society or the economy, because the economy of a country is way too intricate. Today's globalized world is so entangled, that to fix anything one must proceed in cooperation with many, and with caution.
Eugene Lee (mreulee@gmail.com) is an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Governance at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul.